Loyola College, Vettavalam, started in the academic year
2009-2010, was a pioneering initiative of the Jesuit Madurai Province to develop and strengthen the Jesuit Chennai Mission
in the northern parts of Tamil Nadu. The target group of the college is the rural poor, the first generation learners,
the marginalized, the Dalits and the women of the region to educate and empower them. To render this noble service,
the Jesuits have chosen this area surrounded by villages and rural poor. While Fr. M. Devadoss, S.J.,
the then Provincial of Jesuit Madurai Province, and Fr. A. Victor, S.J., Superior of Chennai Mission gave the green signal, Most
Rev. Dr. P.Soundararaju, Bishop of Vellore welcomed the Jesuits to start the College in his diocese. Fr. R. Arockiaraj, S.J. identified
the land, Fr.Maria Joe,S.J., the Mission Treasurer, teamed with Fr. Francis P. Xavier, SJ, Director,
LICET took interest to raise the fund and Fr. H. Ignatius Amalraj, S.J. and his team raised the necessary infrastructure.
The Government of Tamil Nadu through its G.O. Ms No. 164 Higher Education (EI) Department dated 4th June 2009, granted approval
for starting the Loyola College of Arts and Science as a Self-Financing Co-Education College. The Thiruvalluvar University,
Vellore granted affiliation to Loyola College on 24th June 2009 (Ref. No. A. 928). The College started to function from 15th July,
2009 with 195 students, distributed to five Under Graduate Degree Courses (English, B.Com., BBA, BCA and B.Sc Computer Science).
The official inauguration of the college took place on 31st July, 2009, the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola,
the Founder of the Society of Jesus.